• Erik C.

    Capacity Fun Dead spots

    This was my first coaster with an inversion, so it holds a special place in my heart. This is a nice, long ride with multiple fun elements, but also some drawn out sections. The launch, loop, and bunny hills are the best parts of the ride, but the large helices are very drawn out and don't provide many forces. This is honestly a great fit for the park because it has the presence of a very large thrill coaster, without being too intense for those who are new to roller coasters. This is a perfect coaster for someone's first inversion, which is the type of ride you would want to see at a Disney park. Overall a fun ride.

  • Erik C.

    Fun

    This was my first alpine coaster and it was pretty fun. I did it a few times and was honestly a bit nervous about going for my first no brake run, but it turned out fine and was a blast.

  • Erik C.

    Launch Harness Discomfort

    I was looking forward to this unique impulse coaster, but it neither impressed nor disappointed me. The launches were fairly forceful, and the 45 degree spike provided an interesting bit of hang time, but those were the only positive standouts. The over-the-shoulder restraints are pretty bad, and combined with a minor rattle, you will definitely feel some discomfort in the upper-body/head region. However, it is nothing too serious. I also don't think this ride adds much to the lineup, so I wouldn't mind seeing it replaced.

  • Erik C.

    Pointless

    This is a typical family coaster with little in the way of forces. There is nothing wrong with the ride, but it is somewhat pointless given there is another, similarly-sized, and better themed family coaster at the park.

  • Erik C.

    Capacity

    This is a typical family coaster except for that it runs above the walkways and other attractions. It reminded me a lot of the Santa Monica West Coaster and had a similar feel. There was the slightest hint of airtime in some of the hills, but aside from that there were no real forces. It also did have a rattle but it was not enough to bother me. One other big downside is that this coaster only has one train, so the line moves pretty slow. Get this one out of the way and then enjoy the other rides at this park.

  • Erik C.

    Disappointing! Layout

    The only reason people consider this a "water coaster" is because it has one dip before the final drop. Other than that, this is a typical log flume, and honestly not even a good one. It has a simple and short out and back layout, with some minor "mining" theming. Aside from the final drop, the ride is quite boring.

  • Erik C.

    Rattle Discomfort

    This was my first Volare, and it honestly wasn't as painful as I was expecting. It is by no means a good ride as it is very shaky, the transitions are uncomfortable and slam you around, and the restraints only worsen these problems. However, I wouldn't say its unbearably painful. The inline twists were actually fairly smooth and it was just the turns that knocked me around. Brace yourself when you're riding this and you won't be hurt too much.

  • Erik C.

    Discomfort

    This was my first boomerang (before I was a true enthusiast) and I didn't think it was that bad. The headbanging and intensity was less than on other installations, and I would still ride this during every visit. I am glad they changed it out for something better, but it will definitely stay in the upper half of my boomerang rankings.

  • Erik C.

    Location Dead spots

    This is your average family ride with the only distinguishing factor being that its indoors. The theming is not that great, but the mountain gets you out of the sun. It's not even dark on the inside because they have lights around the interior walls, so you can definitely see where you are going. I was expecting a little more out of this coaster, but its fine for a family ride.

  • Erik C.

    First Drop Duration Dead spots

    When I rode this back in 2014, I did not think it was especially bad. I enjoyed it in the same way I enjoy other old wood coasters such as the defunct Colossus at Magic Mountain. No there was not any airtime, yes the coaster crawled around the turns, and yes the coaster rattled, but that is like most old wooden coasters. The drops were fun because of the massive scale of this coaster, and I did not find the rattle to be overly uncomfortable. Other woodies like Grizzly at CGA are much worse. It's awesome that Mean Streak has been converted into a top tier RMC, but I am not going to say this was a terrible ride in its original form.

  • Erik C.

    Nice surprise! Fun Too short

    Disclaimer: I last rode this 5 years ago, so this review is off memory. While this ride is a small scale spinning coaster, it is still quite fun. The layout is pretty good and has a couple intense moments near the ground, but it is also too short in my opinion. Overall a solid family coaster.

  • Erik C.

    Nice surprise! Fun

    Giant Dipper may seem like a boring old woodie, but if you ride it at the right time you'll realize its full potential. I got one ride (a night ride) during my visit here, and I can assure you that nighttime is the prime time to experience this coaster. Being there on a Summer evening, it was busy and the full crowd set the mood of having fun. You start off the ride by dropping straight into a tunnel, and being nighttime, it was pitch black. The tunnel was definitely the best surprise, as the tunnel is much longer than you expect, going through several turns in darkness which makes it seem twice as fast as it actually is. When you're finally outside again, you reach the bottom of the lift. The layout after the drop is very typical for a coaster of its era, and the hills/drops provide only minor airtime, but the unobtrusive lap bars still make the ride fairly exciting. The ride is also somewhat short, but I was not left unsatisfied. Definitely come here for an evening visit if you have the chance!

  • Erik C.

    Location Comfort Fun

    I rode this once back in 2014, and I remember having a positive experience on my ride. This was my first wing coaster, so it was exciting getting to ride in that laid back position while going through the big inversions. I don't remember anything about the specific elements, but I also don't remember noticing the dead spots towards the end, though that could be because I used to not pay attention to those things. I may be overrating it with 4.5 stars, but i'll have to go back to experience it again. As of now, this was an awesome unique coaster for me.

  • Erik C.

    Airtimes Fun Intensity

    I had an absolute blast on my rides on this coaster. Walking away from my 2014 trip to CP, this was my #1 coaster there. When I became a full on enthusiast, I saw the hate that this ride gets, and it shocked me. The complaints about no intensity, no airtime, or a noticeable rattle are completely unfounded based off what I experienced when I rode this. I love the aesthetic of the station and the hype that it builds. The two big airtime hills provided and were very fun. I did not see anything noticeably wrong with this ride back when I rode it. Watch Park Bros review on Youtube, because he explains the sentiment that I also feel towards this ride. However, I do see myself lowering this ride in my rankings when I get to ride it again, just because my priorities for a coaster have changed. That being said, those who give this ride less than 4/5 stars are simply being dishonest.

  • Erik C.

    Location Launch Hangtime Lap Bar

    This was a highly anticipated coaster for me, and I would say it delivered fairly well. The launch is quite forceful, and leads into super tall inversions filled with hangtime. The only real moment of airtime is in the first half on the hill right before the midcourse brakes. The vertical lift is very fun by itself, as the ride has a light package that flashes the roof is you head upwards. The lift pushes you over the top, but then the brakes catch the train and you get several seconds to enjoy the Manhattan skyline on your left until you fall into the worlds steepest drop. It didn't feel too different from other Eurofighter drops, but if you're lucky (like me), one of Shredder's cars passes on its track under you as you fall inwards. The second half is similar to the first half with a few inversions before the final brakes. The biggest downside of this ride is the restraints, which continuously staple you throughout the ride. You can try to keep them up before dispatch, but after the first half they are guaranteed to be half crushing your legs, which you have to deal with for the lift and second half of the ride. I'm sure this could've gotten another half star if not for that, but this is still a fantastic ride and worth a visit if you don't plan on making your way over to Fuji-Q Highland.

  • Erik C.

    Launch Fun Hangtime Rattle

    This is a super compact and fairly intense launch coaster. There is a good mix of airtime and hangtime going through the various inversions, and some of the valleys were also surprisingly intense. The backwards half was definitely the better half not being able to see where you're going and all. The major issue with this ride is the rattle, which is worse than half the wooden coasters I've been on. Personally, the rattle did not take away from the ride experience itself and even made it more interesting, but both my friend and I got mild headaches afterwards which made the rest of the evening less fun. Even so, this is a super fun ride that I would be happy to see installed in other parks.

  • Erik C.

    Duration Dead spots

    Shredder is a fairly average spinning coaster with no standout features. While it has a unique layout, the pacing is relatively slow throughout, so it is not a very forceful ride. I would say your average cloned spinning wild mouse has more forces than this. That said, it still has decent spinning throughout the ride and the layout is long and intertwines well with Shellraiser. Though the ride is a little boring, it is still a great fit for the park and the many families that visit.

  • Erik C.

    Airtimes Fun

    As my first half-pipe coaster, I was happy coming away from the ride. It really is like a rollercoaster version of a spinning disc flat ride. You get good airtime at the top of each spike, and the train even reaches pretty close to the end of the track. Of course the spinning is the other factor that makes this such a fun ride. Great supporting coaster and no complaints!

  • Erik C.

    Theming

    As my first credit, this holds a lot of sentimental value! This may very well be the coaster I have ridden the most as well. The first half of the ride is a well themed dark ride through a castle and dragon's lair until a gate opens into the outside lift hill. The ride itself is not forceful, but it picks up speed towards the final helix. This is a great family coaster and a Legoland classic.

  • Erik C.

    First Drop Fun Theming

    I went to Sea World all the time as a kid, and this was the best ride there for a long time before Manta. The whole area is decently themed, and the elevator lift is definitely the most immersive part of the ride, but there is no specific Atlantis "story" shown through the theming. The first drop is fun and the small coaster section after the elevator lift is also alright, but there are no standout elements on this ride besides the elevator lift. However, this is still an overall good ride and it fits the important water coaster slot well.

  • Erik C.

    Location Layout Duration Dead spots

    This is an awesome terrain family coaster. The layout is very long and winds all the way around and down the mountain with those signature circular drops. It also wraps around many of the other attractions and natural elements, making it a very interactive ride as well. Because of it's age, it is not as smooth as modern family coasters, but that does not take away from the experience too much. The main downside is the pacing, is it slows down a lot in certain sections. Overall, Lisebergbanan is a perfect fit for the park in terms of its thrill level and physical location.

  • Erik C.

    Theming Dead spots

    This is a nice family coaster which offers minor thrills with some decent theming. This is the star attraction of the family ride area of Skara Somerland. Most of the ride is outside, but there is an inside section where a couple of large helices are enclosed. There is theming inside this "show building" to a troll hideout, but there are no animatronics. The ride is not very thrilling, but you get two laps and it is a good fit for this area of the park.

  • Erik C.

    Theming Duration Dead spots

    While Thunder Mountain is a classic Disney coaster, you should go on with the expectation of a family coaster rather than a thrill coaster. The best part of the ride is the amazing theming, especially at the start when you dive into the pitch black and rise through a beautifully lit cave. My favorite section is probably the helix winding in and out of the rock. However, for most of the ride, it struggles to pick up speed, leading to a lot of dead spots. Other great aspects of the ride are its length and capacity. This is a long ride with three lift hills, and they have a dual loading station, so even if the line goes all the way to the entrance, the wait will often be less than an hour. This ride is a must do every time you go to Disneyland.

  • Erik C.

    Theming Fun Masterpiece Rattle

    Matterhorn Bobsleds is a very special ride given its historical significance and quality. The on-ride theming is spectacular even by todays standards, and I can only imagine what people must have thought back in 1959 when it first opened. The interaction between the two sides and the tight, twisty layout make this a solid thrill coaster. The length and pacing of this coaster are also strong points, as the ride is long and keeps its speed through the whole layout. The main issue that detracts from the fun experience are the jerky transitions which exist on all of Arrow's early creations. You get jolted to the side with every turn (which there are a lot of) and there is a significant rattle throughout the entire layout. However, this may actually be fun for some people as it makes the ride more wild. I prefer the left track and have ridden that the most because I think it has a more interesting layout. On either side though, you get a fun splash down at the end which doesn't get you too wet. Aside from the rattle, this is an overall excellent family/thrill coaster which I hope stays around for many more decades.

  • Erik C.

    Theming Dead spots

    This is your typical Vekoma family coaster but it has some outstanding theming. They even landscaped the plot to have hills and water features to minimize the size of the supports needed and keep the look clean. This is probably one of the best kiddie/family coasters of this scale out there.

  • Erik C.

    Theming Fun Masterpiece Rattle

    I have only ridden the right side a couple of times as I view the left side as superior. I went more in depth in that review, but it should be noted that on either side you will get very similar experiences in terms of layout, elements, and comfort level.

  • Erik C.

    Capacity Disappointing! Discomfort

    During my first ride on this in 2012, I did not think that it was the worst ride ever. Some rides I had were better than others, determined by how much flipping I got, but all of them were quite rough. The rides with multiple flips were actually enjoyable to some degree. Even though this was rough, it was still less painful than standup coasters to me, so it earns some stars. I salute La Ronde for taking on the burden of this attraction.

  • Erik C.

    Theming Discomfort Intensity

    Honestly, on certain days I consider this to be the most intense ride at Magic Mountain. The first half isn't so bad, but once you get to the corkscrews, the intensity turns up to 11. Personally, I don't like the intensity on this ride because it can be so much that it is very painful for my legs. It still has its fans and is a fine supporting coaster.

  • Erik C.

    Intensity Airtimes

    This was my first hyper, and even though I have ridden better ones now, I still enjoy this ride because it has plenty of thrills. The drop is both great and disappointing in that any 250+ ft drop is always fun, but it's not very steep so you do not get any airtime. The turnaround is a dead moment, which then leads into an "airtime" hill with mild floater at best. Then the MCBR grinds you to a complete halt, but I think that is for the best because of what comes after. The twister sections after the MCBR is very intense, and I gray-out every time. If the MCBR didn't slow the train down, I would probably pass out. Even though Goliath has some flaws, it is still a good ride.

  • Erik C.

    Pace Layout Duration Headbanging Discomfort Tear it down!

    This was the first stand-up coaster that I rode, and it unfortunately established my distaste for this model. I will also preface by saying I've ridden this and other Standups many times, but the issues always persist. The layout of Riddler's Revenge is typical for a B&M but it interacts well with the scenery it is placed in. The pacing is very strong, but that is where my problems start as well... Unlike other people, I don't really have issues with the ball busting or the headbanging, as those are nothing compared to what my legs feel. At the bottom of every element, or anywhere where strong positive G-forces are felt, my legs feel like they are being squeezed by a hydraulic press, and the pain is almost unbearable. It's low blood pressure that causes this, as standing up allows all the blood to pool in your legs, creating pressure and pain. It's unfortunate Magic Mountain already has Scream, because I would love for this ride to be converted to a floorless. It is unfortunate that my anatomy restricts me from enjoying intense stand-ups, but there's not much I can do.